Illumination apparatus and control device for controlling the illumination apparatus

ABSTRACT

An illumination apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a power supply unit, a switch unit, a bulb, a wireless unit, and a control unit. The power supply unit is for supplying power. The switch unit is for opening or closing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb. The wireless unit is for receiving wireless signals from an external control device, and generating a first control signal when receiving the wireless signals. The control unit is for generating a close signal according to the first control signal. The switch unit closes the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb according to the close signal to enable the bulb to keep emitting light; and opens the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb if no receiving the close signal, thereby keeping the bulb extinguishing. A related control device for controlling the apparatus is also provided.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to road traffic equipment, particularlyto an illumination apparatus and a control device for controlling theillumination apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Current street lamps always turn on all night or turn off after apredetermined time. However, some road segments may not have any trafficfor extended periods of time, as a result, power consumption of thestreet lamps along such road segments is a waste.

Therefore, what is needed is an improved illumination apparatus and acontrol device for controlling the illumination apparatus which canovercome the problem described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover,in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an infrastructure of an illuminationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of anillumination apparatus of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a controldevice of FIG. 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of anillumination apparatus of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a controldevice of FIG. 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an illumination system is disclosed. Theillumination system is capable of generating wireless signals to enableillumination apparatus(es) 10, which is(are) in a range covered by thewireless signals, to emit light, while other illumination apparatus(es)10, which is(are) out of the coverage range of the wireless signals,remain off, thereby saving power. For illustrative purposes, a streetlamp is taken as the illumination apparatus 10.

The illumination system includes a plurality of illumination apparatuses(i.e., street lamps) 10 and a control device 20. The control device 20is configured in a mobile object 15, for example, such as an automobile.The control device 20 is capable of continuously sending out thewireless signals to enable the street lamp(s) 10, which is(are) in thecoverage range of the wireless signals, to emit light. The street lamps10 may be situated along one or both sides of the street. Each of thestreet lamps 10 includes a wireless unit 110 (see FIG. 2) for receivingthe wireless signals. When the street lamp(s) 10 is(are) in the coveragerange of the wireless signals, and other predetermined conditions aremet, the street lamp(s) 10 turn on and emit light. Contrarily, when thestreet lamp(s) 10 is(are) out of the cover range of the wirelesssignals, the street lamp(s) 10 will not detect or receive the wirelesssignals, and remain off thus saving power. The predetermined conditionsmay include, but are not limited to, the signals being received duringnighttime or dark conditions, and poor visibility due to rain or fog.

Referring to FIG. 2, the illumination apparatus (i.e., the street lamp)10 includes a power source unit 102, a bulb 104, a switch unit 106, acontrol unit 108, and the wireless unit 110.

The power source unit 102 is configured for supplying power to the bulb104. The switch unit 106 is configured for opening or closing a circuitbetween the power source unit 102 and the bulb 104.

The wireless unit 110 is configured for receiving the wireless signalsfrom the control device 20, and generating a first control signal to thecontrol unit 108 when receiving the wireless signals. In other exemplaryembodiments, the wireless unit 110 may generate the first control signalwhen signal strength of the received wireless signals satisfies apredetermined value.

The control unit 108 is configured for receiving the first controlsignal from the wireless unit 110, and generating a close signal to theswitch unit 106 according to the first control signal. The switch unit106 closes the circuit between the power source unit 102 and the bulb104 in response to the close signal, so as to enable the bulb 104 toemit light during the time the wireless unit 110 receives the wirelesssignals. Contrarily, when the switch unit 106 does not receive the closesignal, namely the wireless unit 110 does not receive the wirelesssignals, and the control unit 108 does not receive the first controlsignal, the switch unit 106 opens the circuit between the power sourceunit 102 and the bulb 104, thereby keeping the bulb 104 off and savingpower.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control device 20 includes a clock unit 202, atrigger unit 204, a signal generator 206, an input unit 208, a lightdetector 210 and a humidity detection unit 212. The clock unit 202 isconfigured for providing system time of the control device 20 to thetrigger unit 204. The trigger unit 204 is configured for generating acontrol signal when the system time of the clock unit 202 is in apredetermined time range, and sending the control signal to the signalgenerator 206, wherein the predetermined time range is usually definedas a night time period. The signal generator 206 is configured forgenerating the wireless signals to enable the street lamp(s) 10, whichis(are) in the cover range of the wireless signals, to emit light, inresponse to the control signal from the trigger unit 204.

The input unit 208 is configured for generating an input trigger signalto the trigger unit 204 in response to a user input. The light detectionunit 210 is configured for detecting ambient light and generating alight trigger signal to the trigger unit 204 when the detected ambientlight is below a predetermined light level. In other words, the lightdetection unit 210 is configured for detecting whether there issufficient ambient light for traffic. The humidity detection unit 212 isconfigured for detecting ambient humidity, and generating a humiditytrigger signal to the trigger unit 204 when the detected ambienthumidity satisfies a predetermined humidity value. During foggy or rainyweather, although the ambient light may not be below the predeterminedlight level, visibility may be poor, and so it is desirable to have thestreet lamps 10 on when traffic is present.

The trigger unit 204 is further configured for generating the controlsignal in response to the trigger signals including the input triggersignal, the light trigger signal, and the humidity trigger signal fromthe input unit 208, the light detection unit 210, and the humiditydetection unit 212. In such configuration, the control device 10 is notonly capable of automatically generating the wireless signals, but isalso capable of being manually operated to generate the wireless signalsby a user when desired.

In addition, the control mechanism on the street lamps 10 can also beapplied to other illumination apparatus, such as billboards, trafficlights, signposts, and so on. Furthermore, in other exemplaryembodiments, the wireless unit 110 of the street lamps 10 and the signalgenerator 206 of the control device 20 can be arranged according to apredetermined layout so as to enable the receiving operation of thewireless unit 110 and the transmitting operation of the signal generator206 to be along a predetermined direction. For example, the wirelessunit 110 is configured for receiving the wireless signals whose spreaddirection is the same as the driving direction of the automobile 15.Consequently, in the nighttime, only the street lamps 10, which are onthe same side of the street as that of the automobile 15, are turned onto emit light, and street lamps 10 on the other side of the road are notbe turned on, thereby saving power.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of anillumination apparatus of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment. Thedifferences between the illumination apparatus 10 a of FIG. 4 and theillumination apparatus 10 a of FIG. 1 are that the illuminationapparatus 10 of FIG. 2 further includes the light detection unit 210 andthe humidity detection unit 212.

The light detection unit 210 is configured for detecting ambient lightand generating a second control signal to the control unit 108 when thedetected ambient light is below a predetermined light level. Thehumidity detection unit 212 is configured for detecting ambienthumidity, and generating a third control signal to the control unit 108when the detected ambient humidity satisfies a predetermined humidityvalue.

Additionally, the control unit 108 generates the close signal to theswitch unit 106 according to the first control signal and the secondcontrol signal or according to the first control signal and the thirdcontrol signal. That is, during foggy or rainy weather, the bulb 104 ispowered on to provide auxiliary light when traffic is present andvisibility is poor even during the daylight hours.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a controldevice of FIG. 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment. Thedifferences between the control device 20 a of FIG. 5 and the controldevice 20 of FIG. 3 are that the control device 20 a doesn't include thelight detection unit 210 and the humidity detection unit 212accordingly.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the disclosure may be embodied inother forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the presentexamples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to belimited to the details given herein.

1. An illumination apparatus comprising: a bulb; a power source unitconfigured for supplying power to the bulb; a switch unit configured foropening or closing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb;a wireless unit configured for receiving wireless signals generated froman external control device, and generating a first control signal whenreceiving the wireless signals; a control unit configured for receivingthe first control signal from the wireless unit, and generating a closesignal to the switch unit according to the first control signal; and ahumidity detection unit configured for detecting ambient humidity, andgenerating a third control signal to the control unit when the detectedambient humidity satisfies a predetermined humidity value; wherein thecontrol unit generates the close signal when receiving the first controlsignal and the third control signal, and wherein the switch unit closesthe circuit between the power source unit and the bulb in response tothe close signal, so as to enable the bulb to keep emitting light duringthe wireless unit receives the wireless signals; and the switch unitopens the circuit between the power source unit and the bulb if noreceiving the close signal, thereby keeping the bulb extinguishingduring the wireless unit does not receive the wireless signals.
 2. Theillumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless unit generatesthe first control signal when signal strength of the received wirelesssignals satisfies a predetermined value.
 3. The illumination apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a light detection unit configured fordetecting ambient light, and generating a second control signal to thecontrol unit when the detected ambient light does not satisfies apredetermined light level; wherein the control unit generates the closesignal when receiving the first control signal and the second signal. 4.The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illuminationapparatus is a street lamp.
 5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1,wherein the control device is a mobile object.
 6. An illuminationapparatus comprising: a bulb; a power source unit configured forsupplying power to the bulb; a switch unit configured for opening orclosing a circuit between the power source unit and the bulb; a wirelessunit configured for receiving wireless signals generated from anexternal control device, and generating a first control signal whenreceiving the wireless signals; and a control unit configured forreceiving the first control signal from the wireless unit, andgenerating a close signal to the switch unit according to the firstcontrol signal; wherein the switch unit closes the circuit between thepower source unit and the bulb in response to the close signal, so as toenable the bulb to keep emitting light during the wireless unit receivesthe wireless signals; and the switch unit opens the circuit between thepower source unit and the bulb if no receiving the close signal, therebykeeping the bulb extinguishing during the wireless unit does not receivethe wireless signals, and wherein the wireless unit of the illuminationapparatus and a signal generator of the external control device whichgenerates the wireless signals are arranged according to a predeterminedlayout so as to enable a receiving operation of the wireless unit and atransmitting operation of the signal generator to be along apredetermined direction.
 7. The illumination apparatus of claim 6,further comprising a light detection unit configured for detectingambient light, and generating a second control signal to the controlunit when the detected ambient light does not satisfies a predeterminedlight level; wherein the control unit generates the close signal whenreceiving the first control signal and the second signal.
 8. Theillumination apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a humiditydetection unit configured for detecting ambient humidity, and generatinga third control signal to the control unit when the detected ambienthumidity satisfies a predetermined humidity value; wherein the controlunit generates the close signal when receiving the first control signaland the third control signal.
 9. The illumination apparatus of claim 8,wherein the wireless unit generates the first control signal when signalstrength of the received wireless signals satisfies a predeterminedvalue.
 10. The illumination apparatus of claim 8, wherein theillumination apparatus is a street lamp.
 11. The illumination apparatusof claim 8, wherein the control device is a mobile object.